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The alkaline fuel cell (AFC), also known as the Bacon fuel cell after its British inventor, Francis Thomas Bacon, is one of the most developed fuel cell technologies. Alkaline fuel cells consume hydrogen and pure oxygen, to produce potable water, heat, and electricity. They are among the most efficient fuel cells, having the potential to reach 70%.
Demonstration model of a direct methanol fuel cell (black layered cube) in its enclosure Scheme of a proton-conducting fuel cell. A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) [1] into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. [2]
Solid-state ionic devices, such as solid oxide fuel cells, can be much more reliable and long-lasting, especially under harsh conditions, than comparable devices with fluid electrolytes. [ 1 ] The field of solid-state ionics was first developed in Europe, starting with the work of Michael Faraday on solid electrolytes Ag 2 S and PbF 2 in 1834.
The alkaline fuel cell used by NASA in 1960s for Apollo and Space Shuttle program generated electricity at nearly 70% efficiency using aqueous solution of KOH as an electrolyte. In that situation, CO 2 coming in through oxidant air stream and generated as by product from oxidation of methanol, if methanol is the fuel, reacts with electrolyte ...
The planar fuel cell design geometry is the typical sandwich type geometry employed by most types of fuel cells, where the electrolyte is sandwiched in between the electrodes. SOFCs can also be made in tubular geometries where either air or fuel is passed through the inside of the tube and the other gas is passed along the outside of the tube.
An enzymatic biofuel cell is a specific type of fuel cell that uses enzymes as a catalyst to oxidize its fuel, rather than precious metals. Enzymatic biofuel cells, while currently confined to research facilities, are widely prized for the promise they hold in terms of their relatively inexpensive components and fuels, as well as a potential power source for bionic implants.
Fuel cell applications of polymer electrolytes typically employ perfluorosulfonic acid membranes capable of selective proton conduction from the anode to the cathode. Such fuel cells are able to generate electrical energy from hydrogen or methanol fuels. [ 7 ]
The most common electrolyte, again similar to solid-oxide fuel cells, is a dense ionic conductor consisting of ZrO 2 doped with 8 mol-% Y 2 O 3 (also known as YSZ, ytrium-stabilized zirconia). Zirconium dioxide is used because of its high strength, high melting temperature (approximately 2700 °C) and excellent corrosion resistance.